Toilet case



March 5, 1957 E. K. RENZ ETAL TOILET CASE Filed May 28, 1954 INVENTOR. Emil K- Flznz E-zcn-gl: Minn! EzBKi a l LU D F "ifs flt tcrne y United 8tates Patent G TOILET CASE Emil K. Renz, Dedham, and George Miller, Wellesley, Mass., assignors to Knight Leather Products, Inc., Jamaica Plain, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,019

Claims. (Cl. 150-34) The present invention relates to flexible cases particularly adaptable for use as toilet cases and more particularly to an improvement in the design of cases which are opened at the top with the upper portions of the sidewalls forming the cover elements.

Still further the present invention relates to an improved structure over our prior Patent No. 2,640,520, issued June 2, 1953, which matured from application Serial No. 267,966, filed January 24, 1952.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a case of relatively soft flexible material such as leather, in which cover elements are provided at the top thereof, and which has incorporated into the structure, means for automatically raising the cover elements when released, and holding the cover elements in an open position.

A further object of the present invention is to incorporate into the structure of a semi-collapsible case, having a pair of cover members, formed by the top portions of either side wall which close symmetrically together along a central longitudinal line, a spring construction in which the cover members will be tensioned to open outwardly when they are released, and in which the members forming the spring elements are so positioned as not. to interfere with the storage of elements within the case, or with the ability of the case to be collapsed.

In the construction of cases of this general type, in which the cover is formed at the top of the case by the upper portions of the two side elements which close together along a center line, there is substantial difficulty when the case is opened to maintain these two closure elements apart.

The present invention provides a means entirely contained within the case and in a non-obstructing position which will maintain these covers in a substantially upright position when the case is opened, and will further not at all interfere with the collapsible features of the case.

These and other objects of the present invention will be clearly understood when considered in connection with a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional end view of the case in an open position.

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an end view of the case when closed with the spring member shown in dotted outline.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary cross sectional detail of a modification of the invention, and,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the spring elements.

In the construction of this case there is provided a bottom, generally designated as 1, and a pair of side and end walls, 3 and 5, and 4 and 6, respectively, with the side and end walls formed of two pieces of soft flexible material, such as leather, joined together along vertical scams 7 at each end wall 4 and 6. The bottom 1 of this case is formed of a relatively stiff member 8, of cardboard or other similar material which is covered with a an 2,783,808 Patented Mar. 5, 19 57 in the end walls near the vertical seams 7. These cardboard members 12 may be secured to the sidewalls and end walls by gluingor other suitable means, while the member 11 is secured to the member 8, by peripheral stitching 10, which stitching 10, may'also be used to secure the lower edges of the end walls and side Walls 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Closure or cover means for this the top. portions of i the end and side walls. A pair of stringers 16a and 16b for slide fast'enersextend from the center of one end wall 6 to the center of the opposing end wall 4, with'one stringer extending around each side wall ofpthe case. These stringers are secured to a pair of strip members 14 and 15, forming respectively an outer and inner member of-the cover elements. These stringers are secured between these strips 14 and 15 by longitudinal stitching 17, which stitches the stringers 16a and 16b to the strips 15 and also secures the strips 14 to the stripslS. Between the strips 14 and 15, on each side, is positioned a reinforcing rigid bar 18, which extends from apoint near the central line at one end 6, around to the op posing wall 4 near the central line through one side wall,

This reinforcing member 18 which may be formed of metal or similar rigid material, is secured in position between these strips 14-and15 by a longitudinal stitching 19, which also serves to secure the strips 14 and 15 together and to the upper edges of the sidewalls and end walls 3, 4, 5 and 6. The cover portions of the side walls are formed by a stiff cardboard element 20, which extends along the side walls 3 and '5, with its ends tapered,

towards the upper edges with these tapered portions 20a extending into the end walls'4 and 6, and is secured to the outer wall material by gluingorsuitable means.

The tapered section 20a is preferably cut along an arc 20b to provide for the folding of the end walls over themselves. The cardboard element 20 at the side walls 3 and 5, extends downwardly from above a point atwhich the strips 14 and 15 are stitched to the side and end walls to a point just above the metal frame element 21. This frame 21, rectangular in shape, defines substantially the demarcation line between those portions of the side walls which fold to form the cover element and the lower portion of the side walls and end walls which for-m the body of the case. 7

It should be noted, that there is an area vbetween the metal frame 21 andthe lower'reinfor'c'ing inner member 12, designated 22, which is substantially unreinforced and thereby provides a collapsible lower section of the case. The reinforcing frame or band 21, is secured in position against slipping by a series of rivet elements 23, which extend through the flexible outer wall and through the metal frame 21 at regular intervals along the metal band 21.

A pair of spring members 24 and 25 are provided in the construction, each comprising a pair of opposite upwardly extending end sections 24a and 25a, respectively, a pair of continuous side wall or stem sections 24b and 25b respectively, and end wall sections 240 and 250, respectively, continuous at either end with the pair of side wall sections. A diagrammatic view of the spring arrangement is shown in Figure 5. Each of these springs 24 and 25 is secured to the metal frame 21 by a plurality of bends 26 formed on the frame 21 or other suitable means which secure the spring to the frame in position case are formed by against movement. "The-end sections 24a and 25a of each spring are formed parallel to one. another and spaced apart a short distance, with one end section of each spring bearing against the cover section of each of the side walls. The end wall-sections 24cand 250- of each spring are not rigidly connected :by-loops 26-to the frame 21- and there? fore when the upper portions of the side-elements are bent downwardly, to close thecase, =the portions of the spring 240 and 250, will flex slightlydownward as they are 'tensioned by the closing of the cover when a -torque is placed on the sections 2412 and 25b of the spring in the directions indicated by the'arrows A of Figure 5. This slight flexing however does not normally depress the sections 24c and 250 more than the widthof themetal band 21, and therefore will'not interfere with the collapsible feature of this case construction.

The torque -in the springs24 and 25 occurs-in the sections 24b and 25b between the ends 24a and 25: and 14c and 25c.

A cover member of flexible material 27' may be provided on the inside of thecase for finishing appearance, and may be stitched around its :upper edge to the inner strip 15 by means of a peripheral stitching 28.

If desired. the box may also be provided with tapelements 29 on the cover portion of the side edges secured in position by the stitching 19' to act asgripsfor opening the case. A tab element 31 may also be secured by the stitching 19 at one end near the end of -the-slide fastener, so that the slider may readily be openedand closed.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of this construction in which the-frame 21, with thespring members 24 and 25 secured thereto, are held-imposition at the bottom of the cardboard reinforcing element20 by a strip of fabric material 32 which extends longitudinally on each side of the inner surface of each side wall 3 and the length of the reinforcing member 20. The'lower longitudinal edge of the fabric strip 32 is glued or --otherwise suitably secured to the outer fabric cover 3 or S (as the case may be) and the upper longitudinal edge of the fabric material 32 is glued to theinner surfaceof the reinforcing member 20. 1

-Having now described our invention, we claim:

I. A toilet case having-a bottom wall member, a pair of opposite sidewall members and a pair of end wall members, with the end and sidewall-members continuous and surrounding the bottom Wall member, means folming a pair of opposite cover members in the npperportions of the opposite sidewall members with longitudinal hinge lines along each sidewall member, a frame positioned on the inside-of the case along said hinge lines, a pair of spring members with each of said spring members having a cross segment joining opposite side segments with the free ends of the side segments terminating in upwardly extending, end segments, means .secur ugihe springs to opposite sidesrof the frame with means to adaptthe end segments to bear against the inside of the cover members, andthe cross segments and side segments respectively, adjacent to the end wall members and sidewall members.

2. A toilet case having a bottom wall member, a pair of opposite sidewall members, and a pair of end wall members, with the end and sidewall members continuous and surrounding the bottom wall member, means forming a pair of opposite cover members in the upper portions of the opposite sidewall members with longitudinal hinge lines along each sidewall member, a pair of springs with each of saidsprings having a pair of; parallel side ememsioine og er y a oss segmen an it their free ends extendings normal to the plane of the side segments, and means for securing said springswithin the case with the cross segments and side segments respectively adjacent the endwall and sidewall members and means to adapt the free ends to bear against the inside of the cover members. I

-3, 'Atoile-tcase having abottom wall member, apair of opposite sidewall members, and a pair of end wall memberswiththe end and sidewall members continuous and surrounding the bottom wall member, means forming a pair of opposite cover members in the upper portions of the opposite sidewall members with longitudinal hinge lines along each sidewall -memb er, a pair of torsionalsprings with end and center segments with each end segment of each spring positioned in an opposite covermember from its other end segment and-with the centersegments-formed angularly to'the ends whereby they provide torsionalspring meanswhen the end segments arepivoted, and means securing said springs within the case.

4. In a toilet case-having bottom, side andend walls, hinged portions-forming top'closure elements pivotally secured :to the sidewalls of the case, a torsional spring elementhaving stemsections extending along and secured to the supported edges of the hinged portions with a free endextending across-the hinged portions and means coacting with said free end-normally tending to maintain said "hinged port-ionsin an open position.

5. Ina toilet case having bottom, side and end walls, a pair of hinged portions forming a pair of top closure elements supported on the sidewalls of the case and adapted to close together along a central line, apair of torsional spring elements each having stem sections extending-along and secured to the supported edges of the hinged portions with ends extending across each of the hinged portions normally tending to maintain said top closure elements in an open position.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

